Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League HC Bryan Bailey After Win Over Grizzlies

Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League HC Bryan Bailey After Win Over Grizzlies

We did it. We did a great job. We executed down the stretch. Um made for free throws. We got stops. Guys stayed together. Coach, a lot of times um teams they shut down guys and you know they don’t play guys. Just what what went into the decision of having your guys, you know, compete for that that fourth game in that final spot? No, our guys are competitors. You know, obviously they want to go out there and compete. Um and it’s obviously good for their development always, you know, to be in game situations. um we playing for something, you know, so we’re trying to win that fourth game and, you know, try to make the playoffs and be the one of the last four teams. Uh coach, uh Elena just played the first game, but uh really well. I don’t know. What are your your impressions from him? No, he he’s been great for us. Uh obviously he’s active on the defensive end, switches a lot, hustle guy, um able to knock down those corner threes. He’s been great. Been been a joy to coach. And obviously every every young player as as as any other young player he has he still has to I mean he can improve at everything. Yeah. But as of now what are the areas of the game that he has to to improve most? No I mean I think it’s just learning the the NBA game obviously coming from Europe just learning the space is different. Um obviously learning the language learning our terminology you know it’s definitely totally different from what he was used to in Europe. And I think once he gets all that he’ll be fine. which a lot of the focus is on on the players learning on the court, but what have you learned as far as your growth, your your experience? No, it’s been great. You know, just I have a great group of coaches that I’m working with. They make my job a lot easier. Um, all those guys know what they’re doing. So, um, it’s not just all on me, so I kind of give them free reign to do what they’re doing. Uh, I think the biggest thing for me is just, you know, game management, end of the games, managing the timeouts, managing game situations, um, knee three, knee two plays, you know, just to get the ball in play. So those are all been good for me. Right. You’ve also been kind of entrusted with growing the culture as well being that lead guy just the Hawks open East everything y’all expected. Just what do you feel how the guys picking up the culture this game just doing what the Hawks need to do? Yeah, I think the biggest thing for us was just to be go out there and compete. Um and I’ve preached that from day one. Just compete defensively, offensively, stay together, play with the pass, and we’ve done that. Coach Kobe Johnson got the start today and he didn’t play in the last game, but just what have you seen out of him in terms of being ready, especially like on the defensive end and even he was getting his offense going too. What did you see out of today’s game? Yeah, I mean he he’s always ready, you know, so just defensively that’s, you know, kind of one of the reasons we put out, but offensively he was great tonight as well, just getting in the paint and he made shots. So, um, Kobe’s a guy another guy just a competitor. He’s he’s always ready to play and he’s a guy that’s willing to pick up and pressure for the court. Uh coach as of again sorry about another question about Ellen of course like it’s a two-way contrast is going to be between the team and the NBA team but uh do you know that as of now is he ready to to to play games in the NBA? Oh so I mean that that’s not up to me obviously that’s up to the head coach and what we kind of decide uh as a program or what to do with him but I think the biggest thing for him right now is just learning our terminology and getting him up to speed in what we do. Yeah. Is is there anything that has stood has stood out to to you uh from from the and that’s something that you didn’t expect and has surprising? Oh, I mean I well I knew he could guard but I didn’t know he can guard like that. So he really can guard a lot of positions and he really can switch a lot. Um which is every team wants guys like that that can guard multiple positions and he’s one of those guys that can do that. Perfect. 1 2 3